Voice disorders are medical conditions or problems that affect a patient's ability to speak. Common symptoms of a voice disorder include hoarseness, voice strain and breathiness. These can all occur as a result of misuse of the voice, growths in the throat, or infection.
Causes
There are three areas that a voice disorder can affect. A weakened source of airflow will result in a weak voice and short breaths. Damage to the vibrations in the vocal folds can cause hoarseness and breathiness due to air leaks that are caused by vocal folds that do not connect properly. Finally, damage to the vocal tract can change the quality of the voice.
Non-Growths
There are two types of laryngitis that can affect the voice. The most common, acute laryngitis, is typically caused by a viral infection the to swell. This swelling leads to hoarseness of the voice. The vocal cords can be greatly damaged if the patient exerts his voice too much.
Chronic laryngitis, however, can be caused by a number of factors such as acid reflux, the breathing in of smoke, and even yeast infections for asthmatics who use inhalers.
Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease is caused by (the regurgitation of stomach acid) and can result in hoarseness and throat pain.
The vocal cord can even suffer paralysis, as identified by a voice that has soft and breathy qualities rather than trouble breathing. Factors such as surgery, viral infection, or tumors can cause vocal cord paralysis.
The cause of the nervous system disorder known as spasmodic dysphonia is unknown, but the ailment is characterized by larynx muscles experiencing spasms that result in voice abnormalities such as straining, breaks, or breathiness.
When the are irritated, the result can be Reinke's edema when the vocal fold's non-muscle element swells and creates stiffness that causes voice changes.
If a blood vessel on the vocal cord is ruptured, hemorrhaging occurs and tends to be caused by excessive misuse of one's voice.
Growths
Throat cancer, particularly laryngeal cancer, while curable in its early stages, can be indicated by the voice suffering from constant hoarseness, a lump in the throat, and trouble with breathing and swallowing.
Growths called granulomas, which are not cancerous, can form on the vocal folds due to any combination of irritation from breathing tubes, irritation caused by misuse of the voice, or irritation caused by laryngopharyngeal reflux.
Even overuse of the voice, such as excessive shouting can strain the vocal muscles and cause lesions in the vocal cords including cysts, polyps and nodules, which are not unlike calluses.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of a vocal disorder can prove difficult due to the potential for multiple factors to be in play. In order to achieve an accurate assessment of the disorder, all causes must be identified. This fact is further complicated by the fact that causes may not necessarily be medical in nature and can even be a result of the actions of the patient such as smoking.
In getting a proper diagnosis, the physician must take the history of the voice disorder, noting such facts as how long it has occurred, what makes it occur, and how the patient uses his voice. After that, the patient must undergo a physical exam that includes an examination of the head and neck and the larynx, Diagnostic tests may be used to detect abnormal growths such as tumors.
Treatment
Vocal disorders can be treated with medicine depending on the cause of the disorder such as anti-reflux medication for reflux laryngitis, medicine to manage hyperthyroidism, or botox (botulism toxin) if the patient's vocal problem is caused by a muscle disorder.
According to Voiceproblem.org, voice therapy is an essential treatment for many patients. It helps treat vocal disorders such as scarring of the vocal folds that are caused by the patient's misuse or abuse of his voice. This therapy can also help those patients who have had a growth surgically removed from the throat.
Surgery is also a viable option for some patients. There are various types of surgery that can be employed such as phonomicrosurgery, a procedure that removes whatever is interfering with the vibration of the vocal folds.
Tags: vocal folds, misuse voice, that causes, vocal cord, vocal cords, , acid reflux